This “Xebec” has 3 Lateen sails on 3 masts and a bit thicker a hull than most of this particular type of more traditional Xebec/Chebec/Zebec. 18 oars with 2 men per, 22 guns Port n Starboard *incl. 1 fore n 1 aft.
CURRENT LOCATION: GEBTU

Being a man of the sea for most of my life, riding horses -for extended periods- takes a bit of re-acclimation every time. By the tenth day I found myself marveling at the endurance & strength of these twenty plus mules hauling this medium-sized ship for ten-twelve hours a day while the rest dragged logs from back to front for the sled thing that carried it, for days on end.

The ship-sized “sled” was interesting for me. The cleverly designed structure was made out of an unfamiliar wood of thin trunks, the bark was still on it except where climbed-up or strapped-to of course. The twin rails (?) that it rested on curved-up identically fore and aft. Near the ends of these -just as they curved upwards, there was a small but stout-looking metal thing that connected the inner and outer bottom rails with a thick cross-piece. That little cross-piece allowed for (replaceable(!)) logs to rest under it when being pulled. This allowed those rails to last indefinitely as any damage or fiction was taken by the replaceable logs. I was impressed. It also allowed them to descend steeper sections since the sideways logs that the sled was rolling on couldn’t be used on a steep descent, those replaceable logs under the twin-rails took the damage. Where I come from fording a ship was a lot less sophisticated. My guess was that there were more than one of these heading back-and-forth along The Wadi Hammamat, charging a(n understandably) steep price for their services.

I was told that we were most of the way to a city called Gebtu, on The Nile north of Thebes. The thought of sailing down The Nile excited me greatly. I could not wait to see the legendary wonders of Egypt. Soon the relentless sands would give way to irrigated fields & villages and then… The Nile! After fourteen long hot days, those mules got that ship over a hill that gave us sight of the rich fields along The Nile opening before us below. Those amazing mules had it easier from here on out as we descended towards the river and the City of Gebtu. Any city at the end of a major trade route connecting two different worlds is going to be amazing. There will be women from every corner of the world, spices, foods drinks that I haven’t even heard of. Then you factor-in that it is on The Nile? I was almost giddy at this point. Especially after fifteen long, hot, lonely days in the middle of nowhere on a (fascinatingly) foreign trade-route. Soon, I told myself, very very soon!

The name given to this port by sailers and traders from The Hellas lingers and -in some intangible way- belies the age this city by being named in a newer language now. I found myself curious what the older names for this truly ancient port city were. What is now called Leucus Limen has been here for thousands of years. The Wadi Hammamat route leads to Gebtu, just north of Thebes, was going to be a slow passage. Sending the fake cargo ahead of us would give us warning of bandits ahead. Having sent the valuables a bit north on the water in a small boat before hitting the shore I felt confident in my precautions.

The 狼獾 LÁNG HUĀN having a shallow draft slid between two docks onto the beach. What I saw was far beyond what I expected or even imagined. It looked like around 200 armed horsemen plus 3 large carriages in their midst. There were large logs being carried towards us dragged by mules along a narrow track that wound along the front wall of the city from the south a bit. Soon after, 30 or so men on foot approached and Ziyi directed them to remove 6 large rectangular objects wrapped in variously colored fabrics and bound tightly in rope. It took 6 men each to carry them to the 3 big carriages. The rest of the men were in heavier armor and carried themselves like mercenaries. My guess was that those were chests with valuables (gold?). The carriages started west ahead of us -on what I was just informed was the Wadi Hammamat trade route- with the cargo. Just then, around the corner of the front wall a wooden structure that looked like a movable dry-dock for a ship appeared. This thing looked like the skeleton of a ship with a wide flat-bottom hull with an oddly shaped log-frame structure sprouting from it. Was Ziyi actually going to drag this thing up through this meandering road through hill country dragged by 20-25 mules for what would probably be several days along a what appeared to be a very crowded trade route? The question on my mind was where to and why away from the water?@ziyi@ipskakt@mangascochise@eyvisl

The very same South wind that made our trip around Persis brutal carried us north towards Leucus Limen rapidly. From there Cap’n Ziyi planned to ford the desert w/ this 3-mast ship inland w/ 20-something cannons and ammo… plus everything else including us across what would take an unburdened horse 2 or 3 days to reach Gebtu and The Nile. As for how this would be accomplished? My curiosity was piqued.@ziyi@ipskakt@mangascochise@eyvisl

When I came out of my cabin I noticed some new faces. Ipskakt hastened towards me & explained their presence. “Cap’n Ziyi, Arash, who we picked-up in Bandar Siraf. Arash said that you are expecting him. The other man… well he is from another continent actually, he came aboard in Bandar Siraf as well seeking to crew with us in exchange for passage west. An intriguing fellow really, his name is Mangas Cochise. Neither has shied assumption of tasks to help the crew. My instict tells me they are… good sorts Cap’n.@arash@mangascochise@ipskakt

Captain Ziyi seemed to be a good and welcoming sort, and while I was something of a landlubber, I’d gotten settled well enough into watery environs when a passenger from the Meso region of my world up to the river some of my folk had named The Big Muddy. This ship, however, was extremely more strange, and a lot larger, than any I’d ever seen in the past.

I recognized the ship that came to my dock. Ziyi often had crew that were… not what I would invite into my home, but they weren’t treacherous. This time she brought what she would refer to as a “Gaijin” (“Long-nosed Barbarian”) leering over the prow with a distasteful eagerness. I did not have to communicate to my senior staff, they read my face and sent particular men to keep an eye on the pale-skinned warrior while appearing to just escort Ziyi from the ship.

The slippery hull of the LÁNG HUĀN brought us to the port of Bandar Siraf as fast as my own ship could ever do. This ancient city, the hundreds or thousands of years the people of Persis (Persia) have been here is very clear upon approach. There is no question -at all- that there are thousands of years of stories found here. My memories of this beautiful city are uncountable. Finding passage to Noregr wouldn’t be easy for me but… to die with the intoxicating women, the smells in the marketplace… I would die happily in Bandar Siraf.@ipskakt@eyvisl@ziyi

The coastal cities were unkind & not profitable. We headed north-west towards KMT & Al-Mashriq at a rapid pace. Ziyi pushed her crew for there had been little loot to be earned in rounding India. Finally Persis emerged from the distance. The women of Persis are devastatingly beautiful but impossible to touch. Then the rising sun revealed the gleaming port of Bandar Siraf@ipskakt@eyvisl@ziyi

KALIKATA (CALCUTTA)
I was on the fore deck watching the bay wrap around us when a crew-man approached me, “Eyvisl is asking if you know this area.” I laughed and pointed to
CURRENT LOCATION: KALIKATA (CALCUTTA)

IN MUEANG (THAILAND)
The stranger seemed to be a good fellow. His name was something I’ve never heard before. “Mangas Cochise, my crew will make sure that you have a hammock & a spot for your stuff.” He smiled & let my crewman show him to his hammock. “Now, both of you get off of my deck!”@mangascochise@eyvisl@ziyi

IN MUEANG (THAILAND)
“Ahoy!” I yell to the little rowboat. “You two! Hoist that dingy and get that man some food & drink!” Two of the crew set to task. Welcome aboard the 狼獾 (Láng huān). “Why are you out here… in that little thing? What is your name?, Cap’n Ziyi has been informed and shall arrive shortly… at her pleasure, of course.”@mangascochise@ziyi@eyvisl

IN CHINA, HENAN
Do not question me on my ship ever again. You’ll be feeding the fishes soon if you do! Eyvisl, you’ll be on the rudder immediately. Ipskakt is a weak slave and has steered us off course.@eyvisl@ipskakt@ziyi

IN CHINA, HENAN, KAIFENG
It took over 30 farmers, most of the morning & half of my savings to help us dig out of the flood plain of the Yellow River Delta after taking the Bian from Kaifeng. Reaching the ocean tonight!